Show I I Veterans Veterans' News I Increasing numbers of long- long term patients were able to leave I Veterans Administration hospitals to take paying Jobs under 0 a new vocational guidance program that thatis is beginning to produce results VA said this week During the first three thre-e months of 1957 a total of 2825 patients were placed In jobs outside the hospital by VAs VA's vocational counseling counseling counseling coun coun- service ervice and through state and local agencies During the three e months August through October 1954 when the vocational counseling program was developing about patients pa pa- patients were so 50 placed The figures Include veterans who have recovered from mental Illness tuberculosis and other seriously disabling illnesses I Patients who have spent more than 10 years In hospitals fightIng fightIng fight fight- Ing severe mental illness are back on their feet again support support- In families and doing well on the Job The idea that former mental patients cant can't do complicated work Just Isn't so so VA said Our patients go Into all types of Jobs according to their abili abili- ties We try to discharge everyman everyman every everyman man with a job lob and we find most of them make excellent employees employ employ- ees ees Patients who have been hospitalized hospi by VA for mental Illness are not sent out cold to try their hand at former Jobs VA explained Some VA hospitals have a machine machine ma ma- chine shop and a carpenter shop where men can brush up on rusty skills plumbers Ex-plumbers Ex plumbers electricIans elec elec- stock clerks and bookkeepers book book- keepers ar are encouraged to work along with regular hospital employees em for several months before they leave Former typists regain regarn speed under the guidance of an educational therapist Job hunting starts before the patient nt Is discharged The hospi tal's vocational counselor tests the patients patient's aptitudes and sizes up his work skills Employers are very cooperative cooperative coopers tive VA said They ey are fair minded about accepting a man on his merit and present condition Acceptance by the employer by the former mental patients' patients families fam tam lies and by the community are necessary for tor former patients to stay at work as Independent self self- sufficient citizens VA ed I |